by Tad Williams
Ki’ushapo—Jiriki’s hunting companion
Mezumiiru—Sithi sedda (Moon Goddess)
Nenais’u—Sithi woman from An’nai’s song, lived in Enki e-Shaosaye
Shima’onari—King of Sithi, Jiriki’s father, son of Hakatri
Sijandi—Jiriki’s hunting companion
Utuk’ku—Queen of the Norns, mistress of Nakkiga
Vindaomeyo the Fletcher—ancient Sithi arrow-maker of Tumet’ai
Others
Binabik (QANUC)—(Binbimqegabenik) Ookequk’s apprentice, Simon’s friend
Chukku (QANUC)—legendary troll hero
He Who Always Steps on Sand (WRAN)—god
Kikkasut (QANUC)—king of birds
Lingit (QANUC)—legendary son of Sedda, father of Qanuc and men
Lost Piqipeg—legendary troll hero
Middastri (PERDRUINESE)—trader, friend of Tiamak
Ookequk (QANUC)—Singing Man of Mintahoq tribe, Binabik’s master
Qinkipa of the Snows (QANUC)—snow and cold goddess
Roahog (WRAN)—potter
Sedda (QANUC)—moon goddess
She Who Birthed Mankind (WRAN)—goddess
Streáwe (PERDRUINESE)—Count of Ansis Pelippe
Tallistro, Sir (PERDRUINESE)—famous knight of Johannine Table
Tiamak (WRAN)—scholar, correspondent of Morgenes
Tohuq (QANUC)—sky god
Vorzheva (THRITHINGS)—Josua’s companion, daughter of a Thrithings-chief
Yana (QANUC)—legendary daughter of Sedda, mother of Sithi
PLACES
Abaingeat—Hernystiri trading port, on Barraillean River at coast
Aldheorte—large forest covering much of Central Osten Ard
Ansis Pellipé—capital and largest city of Perdruin
Asu’a the Eastward-Looking—Sithi name for Hayholt
Baraillean—river on border of Hernystir and Erkynland, called "Greenwade" in
Erkynland Cellodshire—Erkynlandish barony west of Gleniwent Crannhyr—walled city on Hernystiri coast
Da’ai Chikiza (Sithi; “Tree of the Singing Winds”)—abandoned Sithi city on east side of Wealdhelm, in Aldheorte
Eirgid Ramh (Hernystiri)—Abaingeat tavern, haunt of Old Gealsgiath
Enki-e-Shaosaye (Sithi)—“Summer-city” east of Aldheorte, long-ruined
Ereb Irigú (Sithi: “Western Gate”)—the Knock; in Rimmerspakk: Du Knokkegard
Hewenshire—northern Erkynlandish town east of Naglimund
Hullnir—eastern Rimmersgard village on northeast rim of Drorshullven
Jao é-Tinukai’i (Sithi: “Boat on [the] Ocean [of] Trees”)—Only thriving Sithisettlement, in Aldheorte
Jhiná-T’senei (Sithi)—city of An’nai’s song, now beneath ocean
Little Nose—mountain in Yiqanuc where Binabik’s parents died
Moir Brach (Hernystiri)—long, finger-shaped ridge off Grianspog Mountains
Nakkiga (Sithi: Mask of Tears)—Stormspike, Sturmrspeik (Rim merspakk)
Qilakitsoq (Qanuc: Shadow-wood)—Troll name for Dimmerskog
Runchester—northern Erkynlandish town on Frostmarch
Sancellan Aedonitis—palace of Lector and chief place of Aedonite Church
Sancellan Mahistrevis—former Imperial palace, now palace of Nabban's duke
Seni Anzi’in (Sithi; Tower of the Walking Dawn)—Tumet’ai’s great tower
Seni Qjhisá (Sithi)—cited in An’nai’s song
Skoggey—central Rimmersgard freehold east of Elvritshalla
Stormspike—mountain home of Norns, “Sturmrspeik” to Rimmersmen, also called “Nakkiga”
T’si Suhyasei (Sithi: “Her Blood is Cool”)—river running through Da’ai Chikiza; in
Erkynlandish: Aelfwent
Tan’ja Stairs—great Asu’a stairs, formerly centerpiece of Asu’a
Tumet’ai (Sithi)—northern city buried under ice east of Yiqanuc Ujin
e-d’a Sikhunae (Sithi: “Trap that captures the Hunter”)—Sithi name for Naglimund
Urmsheim—dragon-mountain north of White Waste
Warinsten—island off coast of Erkynland, birthplace of King John
Woodsall—barony between Hayholt and southwestern Aldheorte
CREATURES
Aeghonwye—Maegwin’s brood sow
Atarin—Camaris’ horse
Croich-ma-Feareg—legendary Hernystiri giant
Greater Worm—Sithi-myth, original dragon from which all others are descended
Hidohebhi—Black Worm, mother of Shurakai and Igjarjuk, slain by Ineluki; in Hernystir: Drochnathair
Igjarjuk—Ice-worm of Urmsheim
Khaerukama’o the Golden—dragon, father of Hidohebhi
Niku’a—Ingen Jegger’s lead hound
One-Eye—Ookequk’s ram
Qantaqa—Binabik’s wolf companion
Rim—plow horse
Shurakai—Firedrake slain beneath Hayholt, whose bones are Dragonbone Chair
THINGS
Boar and Spears—emblem of Guthwulf of Utanyeat
Bright-Nail—sword of Prester John, containing nail from the Tree, and finger bone of Saint Eahlstan Fiskerne
Citril—sour, aromatic root for chewing
Ciyan—a Nabbanai fruit shrub, very rare
Fire Drake and Tree—emblem of King John
Ilenite—a costly, shimmery metal
Indreju—Jiriki’s witchwood sword
Kvalnir—Isgrimnur’s sword
Lu’yasa’s Staff—line of three stars in the sky’s northeast quadrant early Yuven
Mantinges—a spice
Mezumiiru’s Net—star cluster; to Qanuc: Sedda’s Blanket
Minneyar—iron sword of King Fingil, inherited through line of Elvrit
Mockfoil—a flowering herb
Naidel—Josua’s sword
Oinduth—Hern’s black spear
Quickweed—a spice
Pillar and Tree—emblem of Mother Church
Rhynn’s Cauldron—Hernystiri battle-summoner
Shent—Sithi game of skill
Sorrow—sword of iron and witchwood smithied by Ineluki, gift to Elias (Sithi:
Jingizu)
Sotfengsel—Elvrit’s ship, buried at Skipphavven
Thorn—star-sword of Camaris
Tree—the Execution Tree, on which Usires was hanged upside down before temple of Yuvenis in Nabban, now sacred symbol of Aedonite religion
Knucklebones—Binabik’s auguring tools; Wingless Bird Fish-Spear The Shadowed Path Torch at the Cave-Mouth Balking Ram Clouds in the Pass The Black Crevice Unwrapped Dart Circle of Stones Mountains Dancing
Holidays
Feyever 2—Candlemansa
Marris 25—Elysiamansa
Avrel I—All Fool’s Day
Avrel 30—Stoning Night
Maia 1—Belthainn Day
Yuven 23—Midsummer’s Eve
Tiyagar 15—Saint Sutrin’s Day
Anitul 1—Hlafmansa
Septander 20—Saint Grams’ Day
Octander 30—Harrows Eve
Novander 1—Soul’s Day
Decander 21—Saint Tunath’s Day
Decander 24—Aedonmansa
Months
Jonever, Feyever, Marris, Avrel, Maia, Yuven, Tiyagar, Anitul, Septander, Octander, Novander, Decander
Days of the Week
Sunday, Moonday, Tiasday, Udunsday, Drorsday, Frayday, Satrinsday
A GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION
Erkynlandish
Erkynlandish names are divided into two types. Old Erkynlandish (O.E.) and Warinstenner. Those names which are based on types from Prester John’s native island of Warinsten (mostly the names of castle servants or John’s immediate family) have been represented as variants on Biblical names (Elias—Elijah, Ebekah—Rebecca, etc.) Old Erkynlandish names should be pronounced like modem English, except as follows:
a—always ah, as in “father” ae—ay of “say” c—k as in “keen”
&nbs
p; e—ai as in “air,” except at the end of names, when it is also sounded, but with an eh or uh sound, i.e., Hruse—“Rooz-uh”
ea—sounds as a in “mark,” except at beginning of word or name, where it has the
same value as ae g—always hard g, as in “glad” h—hard h of “help” i—short i of “in” j—hard j of “jaw” o—long but soft o, as in “orb” u—oo sound of “wood,” never yoo as in “music”
Hernystiri
The Hernystiri names and words can be pronounced in largely the same way as the O.E., with a few exceptions:
th—always the th in “other,” never as in “thing”
ch—a guttural, as in Scottish “loch”
y—pronounce yr like “beer,” ye like “spy”
h—unvoiced except at beginning of word or after t or c
e—ay as in “ray”
ll—same as single l; Lluth—Luth
Rimmerspakk
Names and words in Rimmerspakk diner from O.E. pronunciation in the following:
j—pronounced y: Jarnauga—Yarnauga; Hjeldin—Hyeldin (H nearly silent here) ei—long / as in “crime” e—ee, as in “sweet” o—oo, as in coop au—ow, as in “cow’
Nabbanai
The Nabbanai language holds basically to the rules of a romance language, i.e., the vowels are pronounced “ah-eh-ih-oh-ooh,” the consonants are all sounded, etc. There are some exceptions.
i—most names take emphasis on second to last syllable; Ben-i-GAR-is. When this syllable has an i, it is sounded long (Ardrivis: Ar-DRY-vis) unless it comes before a double consonant (Antippa: An-TIHP-pa)
e—at end of name, es is sounded long: Gelles—Gel-leez
y—is pronounced as a long i, as in “mild”
Qanuc
Troll-language is considerably different than the other human languages. There are three hard “k” sounds, signified by: c, q, and k. The only difference intelligible to most non-Qanuc is a slight clucking sound on the q, but it is not to be encouraged in beginners. For our purposes, all three will sound with the k of “keep.” Also, the Qanuc u is pronounced uh, as in “bug.” Other interpretations are up to the reader, but he or she will not go far wrong pronouncing phonetically.
Sithi
Even more than the language of Yiqanuc, the language of the Zida’ya is virtually unpronounceable by untrained tongues, and so is easiest rendered phonetically, since the chance of any of us being judged by experts is slight (but not nonexistent, as Binabik learned). These rules may be applied, however.
i—when the first vowel, pronounced ih, as in “clip.” When later in word, especially at end, pronounced ee, as in “fleet”: Jiriki—JihREE-kee
ai—pronounced like long i, as in “time”
’ (apostrophe)—represents a choking sound, and should not be voiced by mortal
readers.
Exceptional names
Geloë—Her origins are unknown, and so is the source of her name. It is pronounced “Juh-LO-ee” or “Juh-LOY.” Both are correct.
Ingen Jegger—He is a Black Rimmersman, and the “J” is Jegger is sounded, just as in “jump.”
Miriamele—Although born in the Erkynlandish court, hers is a Nabbanai name that developed a strange pronunciation—perhaps due to some family influence or confusion of her dual heritage—the sounds as “Mih-ree-uh-MEL.”
Vorzheva—A Thrithings-woman, her name is pronounced “Vor-SHAY-va,” with the zh sounding harshly, like the Hungarian zs.
WORDS AND PHRASES
Nabbanai
Aedonis Fiyellis extulanin mei—“Faithful Aedon save me”
Cansim Felis—“Song of Joy”
Cenit—“Dog”, “Hound”
Cuelos—“Death”
Duos wulstei—“God willing”
Escritor—“Writer”: one of group of advisors to Lector
Hue Fauge—“What’s going on”
Lector—“Speaker”: head of Church
Mansa sea Cuelossan—“Mass for the Dead”
Mulveiz nei cenit drenisend—“Let sleeping hounds lie”
Oveiz mei—“Hear me”
Sa Asdridan Condiquilles—“The Conqueror Star”
Tambana Leobardis eis—“Leobardis is (has) fallen”
Timior cuelos exaltat mei—“Fear of death lift me”
Vasir Sombris, feata concordin—“Shadow-father, accept this bargain”
Hernystiri
Brynioch na ferth ub strocinh…—“Brynioch has turned away…”
E gundhain sluith, ma connalbehn…—“We fought well, my dear one…”
Feir—“Brother” or “Comrade”
Goirach—“Mad” or “Wild”
Sithi—“Peaceful Ones”
Rimmerspakk
Im todsten-grukker—“A grave-robber” Vaer—“Beware”
Vawer es do ükunde?—“Who is this child?”
Qanuc
Aia—“Back” (Hinik Aia—get back)
Bhojujik mo qunquc—(idiom) “If the bears don’t eat you, it’s home.”
Binbiniqegabenik ea sikka! Uc Sikkam mo-hinaq da Yijarjuk!—“I am (Binabik)! We
are going to Urmsheim!”
Boghanik—“Bukken”
Chash—“True” or “Correct”
Chok—“Run”
Croohok—“Rimmersmen”
Hinik—“Go” or “Get away”
Ko muhuhok na mik aqa nop—“When it falls on your head, then you know it’s a
rock.”
Mikmok hanno so gijiq—(idiom) “If you want to carry a hungry weasel in your
pocket, it’s your business.”
Nihut—“Attack”
Ninit—“Come”
Sosa—“Come” (imperative)
Ummu—“Now”
Yah aqonik mij-ayah nu tutusiq, henimaatuq—“Ho, brothers, stop and speak with
me.”
Sithi
Ai Samu’sithech’a—“Hail Samu’sitech’a”
Asu’a—“Looking eastward”
Hei ma’akajao-zha—“Bring it (the castle) down”
Hikeda’ya—“Children of Cloud”: Norns
Hikka—“Bearer”
Im sheyis t’si keo’su d’a Yana o Lingit—“For the shared blood of our Ancestors (Yana and Lingit)”
Ine—“It is”
Isi-isi’ye—“It is (indeed) that”
Ras—term of respect “sir” or “noble sir”
Ruakha—“Dying”
S’hue—“Lord”
Skei’—“Stop”
Staja Ame—“White Arrow”
Sudhoda’ya—“Sunset-children”: Mortals
Tsi anh pra Ineluki!—“By Ineluki’s blood!”
T’si e-isi’ha as’irigú!—“There is blood on the eastern gate’”
T’si im T’si—“Blood for blood”
Ua’kiza Tumefai nei-R’i’anis—“Song of the Fall of Tumet’ai”
Zida’ya—“Children of Dawn”: Sithi